Top Ten Secrets To Winning The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

As on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno

10. When the judge examines your dog, "Accidentally" leave a folded twenty tucked into the collar.
9. For a healthy, lustrous coat, add a raw egg to your toilet water.
8. Hard work, patience and a ridiculous amount of de-worming cream.
7. Feed large dogs well so they're not tempted to snack on Chihuahuas.
6. Snausages and Red Bull.
5. In case of emergency, always keep a spare dog in your pants.
4. Give your dog a flea bath, and while you're at it, give yourself one.
3. (points to dog) This is actually two guys in a dog suit.
2. Tell the dog if she wins, she gets to be on Leno.
1. Ask Jose Canseco for some of that "high powered" kibble

Serve me up please!

We've talked about it before - "You know, if Bear would sit at the table properly - we could actually let him eat at the table." Well, last night we tried it. We propped him up in one of the chairs. It was actually easier than we thought it would be. I just patted the chair and up he went like he's been thinking about this for along time. We did have to help him center himself but once he found his balance he actually stayed up there for a while - waiting for a big helping of anything. Eventually, he realized we were to busy laughing and taking pictures and got down. He's all comedy.

Question/Answer

Question:
Thanks for starting this group. What type of obedience training does Bear have? I am interested in animal assisted therapy work and was wondering what your experience has been in training a newf. Also, how did you choose a breeder?


Answer:
We too are interested in animal assisted therapy work but haven't yet started actual training for it. Our experience in training a newf has been extremely positive. They are very smart but also independent thinkers. House training took about 2 weeks with a few accidents to follow. But once he understood, he would do anything he could NOT to mess up. One example I will share; we came home after work one day and Bear didn't meet us at the door. Instead we found him hiding with his head down as he knew he was about to see us upset. But what we found was an incredible but failed effort to take his illness outside - he had completely torn down the blinds off our dining room window but couldn't get through the window. Since he obviously couldn't hold it any longer, he went potty right by the window - he had the runs. He is the smartest animal we've ever had the opportunity to meet/own. He's a pleaser by nature and it makes it easy and fun to train. Hope that helps! Perhaps we'll post more once we start our therapy training?!

Fan Mail

I have to write and let you know that I am never going to win the "Newf Mommy of the Year Award". Ever since you've posted the links to your photos of your incredible Bear, I've been cheating on my own newfs, sniff. Oh they aren't exactly aware of what's going on. I'll be on the computer and they'll come trotting in and I quickly close the page I'm viewing or put up another. They can sense something isn't quite the same since I've seen Bear! I think they're starting to notice the comments around here like, "Oh my GOD, I'm in LOVE with this boys face!" and similar, being spoken by not only me but my two teenagers and husband. We try to hide it but since I've made one of the photos as my wallpaper, it's getting more difficult.....

I hope you realize this is very tongue in cheek -grin. I'm sure you've been told hundreds of times that there is something about Bear that just leaps off the photos. He's SUCH a magnificent looking boy and has such a beautiful spirit that comes through. Or I think it may have something to do with the fact his parents just love him beyond reason. Thank you so much for sharing your photos of him with the list. Even though my black girl looks like a very large flat coat (NCA rescue) and my landseer has the same head as Bear, but not coat, we think they're beautiful too and love them with all our hearts -grin.

Keep 'em coming!
Carol and her crew in North Carolina